MOHAMED AL FAYED may have turned up nearly an hour late to the FA’s launch of their 150th birthday celebrations on Wednesday, but at least the Fulham chairman bothered to turn up.

Invites sent to all 92 clubs received a meagre response given the calibre of some of the guests who did contribute.

Sir Bobby Charlton turned up on the condition he could leave in time to get back to watch Manchester United’s FA Cup replay against West Ham, but the heroes of 1966 and English football’s finest hour look set to be largely overlooked in the year-long celebrations.

The FA are keen to concentrate more on the work they are doing at grass-roots level than merely focusing on the England team.